Things That Concern Me

So, I'm feeling a little morose (which according to dictionary.com means, "...gloomily or sullenly ill-humored, as a person or mood."). And my body isn't really cooperating with my efforts to be in a good mood. Among the issues I'm currently trying to address:

1. I think my face is rejecting the rest of my body. My skin is so stinking dry I can barely move my face in the morning. It hurts to yawn. I put lotion on at least 3 times before I head out the door. These low humidity shenanigans must stop. I think its the reason I've been battling epic zits (that's right, not your average clogged ducts...EPIC ZITS!).

2. I'm growing a cowlick...or something. There's a spot at the back of my head that just will not lie flat, and it didn't used to be that way. Beyond that, there's something there, a mole or scab or something. Right now I've decided it's cowlick-causing-cancer. It's been there for like a month and I haven't run my head into something sharp in quite some time (that I remember). Next thing you know there will be a giant seeping wound in the back of my head. Then I will die. And you'll all feel bad.

3. I decided to spontaneously quit drinking soda (because I heard waiting for a special date to quit makes you less likely to succeed), and it feels like my brain is shrinking away from my skull. It blows. On the upside, I don't feel so worried about my teeth and bones when I chug down 44 ounces of water.

4. I might have blown a snot bubble yesterday. I was just trying to say "Yeah" and breathe at the same time. It would have been a small bubble, but it felt like a bubble nonetheless. How embarrassing (its not like I was saying "Yeah" to myself, there was someone I was addressing. Lame.). Eh, I've decided to start carrying a handkerchief around with me, it seems less old-woman-ish to me than tissues.

5. There are still spiders in my apartment. They don't end up on my sticky traps because they walk on the walls and ceiling. I keep trying to squash them, but lately the only shoes that have been within reach of me are my work shoes (see item #6 for a description of why said work shoes are so lame). To make matters worse I took a swig of water from a glass near my computer yesterday and there was a spider in it! It was horrifying!

6. I fell down yesterday. It was lame. I think I pulled a muscle in my belly trying not to fall, and I bruised my elbow. It was sad. My work shoes, while warm, suck in the snow. I won't be wearing them in the snow again.
It went something like this:

Me and Lou were walking
...
Then I found some ice
...
Then I hit the pavement. It hurt.

I hope you can all laugh at my pain. I'm laughing...on the inside. It doesn't hurt to laugh there.

----------------
Now playing: Garbage - Medication
via FoxyTunes

So Liz and Mom both made it sound like I have dropped off the face of the Earth, and nothing could be farther from the truth. I've been safe and sound in Logan. My last few posts may sound a little discouraging, but December is kind of a discouraging month. However, there have been some good times, as seen below.
Thanksgiving was fun, my family kicks so much ass its ridiculous. I always love the time can spend shooting the breeze with them.
The food was excellent...
But there were yams...
I also got to decorate my apartment with Christmas stuff. I really, really enjoy decorating. I feel silly for it, but it is what it is.
I thought I'd take the opportunity to document that my Christmas tree did indeed fit in with the rest of my furniture and that I got a cute new sweater...

And I had a birthday. I'm now a quarter of a century old. Its not so bad. Bonus: I got my wedding cake. Another slightly irrational moment of mine. I became obsessed with this cake a few years ago while I was flipping through a wedding magazine. I really, really wanted the cake, but Mom thought it was silly, so I figured a milestone that would deserve a special cake. It was beautiful and totally worth the obsessing...
Thanks mom. I also got some gear I really needed: ski boots, kayak paddles and a face mask (and a kick ass hat!). It was awesome...
I've also done a little small scale adventuring: figuring out how to make sushi, battling my hair, moving furniture, finding a new purse, fixing internet issues, etc. All in all, life is good (really, how could it be bad when I've got my new hat?).
----------------
Now playing: Boston - More Than a Feeling
via FoxyTunes

Itch

Currently it is 41.0 degrees Fahrenheit in Logan, its supposed to reach a low of 21 tonight, and there is no snow. This is just unacceptable. I want out. I know I signed up for these grad school shenanigans, but right about now it feels like they're holding me down. Right now grad school feels much less like an adventure and more like a slog (nay, a mire, I'm mired in this Great Dismal Swamp of a program (this is funny to me, it could be funny to you if you'd read the paper I finished the other day, but I really wouldn't recommend it)). I'm feeling the itch to head for warmer climes. If there were some skiing to be had I might feel better (especially because I now have boots and skis). Anyways, in place of a great southern migration, I've decided to find myself a pair of snowshoes and adventure out that way. I figure it'll be a good replacement for hiking (once there's enough snow to make it happen), and much cheaper than skiing. I'll let you know how it goes.

I've been thinking a great deal about going somewhere. I wish I had friends spread out a little farther, I think visiting them would be a good opportunity to head out of the valley. Anyways, I'm really looking forward to going somewhere for spring break this year, here are my current options (click on the green text and they'll send you to websites that show some of the potential coolness I could discover in my explorations).

Option 1: Head North
I'm thinking of trying out the Northwest for spring break. It'll probably be March-type cold, but more rainy than snowy. The highlight of this trip would be Olympic National Park.
Why go to the Olympic Peninsula? Well, according to the Park Service:

Here you will find Pacific Ocean beaches, rain forest valleys, glacier-capped peaks and a stunning variety of plants and animals. Roads provide access to the outer edges of the park, but the heart of Olympic is wilderness; a primeval sanctuary for humans and wild creatures alike.

Awesome. But mostly, its a temperate rain forest. I've wanted to run around in the rain forest since I saw "Ferngully" (which is now on DVD, awesome). There was some jungle to be seen near Cancun, but it was all fenced off when I was there (boo). I realize that there probably won't be fairies like in the movie, but there are a ton of other things to see (things that are cooler than fairies, which can't actually be seen). Also, 95% of the park is designated as wilderness. That's an opportunity to get good and lost, if ever I heard one. I figure a few days of soggy backpacking would do me some good. Plus there are 73 miles of coastline within the park, full of sandy peaches, tidal pools and cliffs. I'd like to see a starfish or sea anemone. That would be awesome.

Other wildlife viewing options include orcas, sea lions, dolphins and whales (a lot of the area around it was designated as the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary). Further inland I could see black bears, cougars, bobcats, and elk (in addition to a whole number of endemic rodents, and pigs). Plus there are about 300 species of birds that have been spotted in the park.
There's also the opportunity to see Seattle, a town that sounds fairly interesting to me. There I could ride a ferry. I dig ferries. And the Columbia River, I like to see what's left of that.
(There's also a dork option Liz could like: Forks, WA is located on the Olympic Peninsula, its a real town).

Option 2: Head South
This option is a little more vague, as there is a ton to see down there. Almost any time I bring up the southern Utah/northern Arizona option someone gives me another recommendation for places I could try to see. Among the stops I could see are:
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
The Hayduke Trail (just a portion)
Buckskin Gulch
Grand Canyon National Park
Arches National Park

This option's main appeal is that I know there are a ton of places I could opt to spend my days, and it will likely be dry. I went that direction last year, and there is a lot I wish I had time to see. The environment is quite opposite of option 1, it'll all be desert. So here's the dilemma: go through the familiar, yet exhilarating desert or the new and exciting old growth forest. Hmm.

Well, its been exciting to think about getting out of town. Hopefully I'll make it through.

----------------
Now playing: 311 - Nix Hex
via FoxyTunes

Hi, My Name is Becka and I'm a Slacker

(I thought I'd start this out with an unusually cheery picture, I feel the exact opposite of that, there's no rainbows in my world right now, or trees. Just cubicle walls and my stinking laptop). So I'm in the middle of writing a final paper, and I'm dragging ass. I want to do so many other things. Namely:

• blog
• hike
• sleep
• do dishes
• finish the stupid vampire book
• make cheesecake
• run a 5k
• make a snowman
• dance
• update my iPod
• watch my current Netflix offer
• pay bills
• drive somewhere more than 4 hours away
• dance more
• eat peaches
• go kayaking
• pluck my eyebrows
• buy socks
• do laundry
• buy underwear
• organize my closet
• make a snow angel

As you can see, there is so much more I could make of this day. Alas, I'm here at school, resigned to finishing this paper before 2 a.m. I will break for food, maybe a run, but not for much fun. Boo. Also, the food I will break for isn't even good, I've officially gotten over microwave burritos. They don't taste like much of anything. I just ate a cheese and bean burrito, but I couldn't taste the cheese. I have cheese at home, but I'm at school. I have a package of Saltines here, I hope I don't ever get over Saltines. I'd really like some Texas Toast, but I don't have anymore. I'll be consuming quite a bit of Mountain Dew in hopes it will keep me concentrating (I'll at least be awake because I'm drinking it fast enough I have to pee every half hour). I'm kind of over Mt. Dew too, I suppose I'll have to move on to something like crack. Eh.

I've been trying to remember brighter days while I'm stuck in my office space. Friday instead of writing I surfed the internet and found this video I really liked. The Daily Show usually manages to get it right, its a little vulgar, in an edited way. But I love it (I figure anyone who can figure out how to incorporate the term "Industrial Strength Douche Bag" into a discussion of terrorism deserves props). I haven't been able to post the actual video because of some HTML script mystery that I can't figure out, so follow this link, it's 3 minutes of your life that will be well spent.

http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=210920&title=mumbai-tragedy

Also, check out this article called "Why They Hate Mumbai."

And this article on Cyberchondria

Eh. My 15 minutes of freedom are up. Back to work. Someone should shed tears for me, because I can't, full on apathy has set in.

I almost forgot, I do have some good news. I came up with a temporary title for my paper: Fear and Loathing in Swamps and Muskegs. Also, I currently have 5 pages typed (plus my title page and bibliography) that I have yet to double space. Double spacing is my favorite part, I save it until the end because it makes it doubles the amount of work I've just done (sort of, it makes me happy. Don't judge me.).

----------------
Now playing: Damien Rice - Cold Water
via FoxyTunes

Top 5

So, has anyone seen "High Fidelity"? If you haven't, it has John Cusack, who I love. Throughout the movie he makes lists of his Top 5 songs/albums/artists for various reasons (sorry for the vagueness, I haven't seen it is a while). So I've decided to do my Top 5, because I have opinions and like to share them.

Top 5 Bands Ever
1. 311
2. Bright Eyes
3. Damien Rice
4. Unwritten Law
5. Weezer

Top 5 Live Performances
1. 311
2. Social Distortion
3. Weezer
4. Unwritten Law
5. Dashboard Confessional (so long as no face-punching is involved)
(Note: there are many honorable mentions, but in the name of Top 5-ing I had to pick the best)

Top 5 Live Performances I Wish to See
1. O.A.R.
2. Say Anything
3. Bright Eyes
4. Bob Dylan
5. Nirvana (what a wish)

Top 5 Bands I Have Recently Gotten Into
1. G Love and Special Sauce (they're on their way to the Best Bands Ever List)
2. Ben Folds
3. Ben Lee
4. Ludo
5. Death Cab for Cutie

Top 5 Movies Ever
1. Anchorman
2. Shaun of the Dead
3. So I Married An Axe Murderer
4. Brother, Where Art Thou?
5. Pineapple Express (its a rash move, but I have a lot of faith in this movie)

Top 5 TV Shows Ever
1. Heroes
2. Scrubs
3. Sex and the City
4. Psyche
5. Law and Order: SVU/Grey's Anatomy (its a tie, I won't decided which I like best)

Top 5 Books Ever (Fiction-ish)
1. The Monkey Wrench Gang - Edward Abbey
2. Where the Sidewalk Ends - Shel Silverstein
3. The Portrait of Dorian Grey - Oscar Wilde
4. America - Jon Stewart
5. The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

Top 5 Books Ever (Non-fiction)
1. Crossing the Next Meridian - Charles Wilkinson
2. Lies My Teacher Told Me - James Loewen
3. Collapse - Jared Diamond
4. A Sand County Almanac - Aldo Leopold
5. Infrastructure: a Field Guide to the Industrial Landscape (also known as the Dork Book) - Brian Hayes

Top 2 Book Series Ever (Dorky)
1. Lord of the Rings
2. Harry Potter

Note to readers: the term EVER is used here very loosely, things could be different tomorrow, but today I'm feeling very emphatic (except for 311, they will always be tops). Also, the picture up top is from this Pon and Zi website, check it out, the artist does these darling, slightly emo-ish pictures that warm my heart cockles.

So, the reason I'm doing this is that Shelfari is doing this 50 book challenge, they want people to read 50 books this year to show that reading isn't obsolete. I have lots of books sitting around waiting to be read or bought, but not 50. So, I looking for some recommendations on books that I should read this year. I'm easy, I read the ingredients from my shampoo bottles, however, if its a tear-jerker I need a warning so I don't end up reading something tragic in public (fun story: I couldn't stop reading the 6th Harry Potter book, even though I had to work in the box office at the theater, I spent a good hour crying and telling customers I was having allergy problems). The other reason I'm doing this is that I built a killer Netflix queue. I'm freaking psyched for them to start arriving (I am currently very agitated that "I'm Not There" was supposed to arrive Thursday, but still has not shown itself). So far my queue is 53 deep, but I'll take recommendations on that front too. Hope everyone is having a good weekend!

----------------
Now playing: Cold War Kids - Hospital Beds
via FoxyTunes

Tagged 4:4:4

Here's what I found in the bowels of my computer. Turns out its one of my faves. I love this veterinary clinic, mostly because I love their signs. If this doesn't give you a giggle I don't know what will. Boo ya!

----------------
Now playing: G- Love & Special Sauce - Beautiful
via FoxyTunes

Becka takes a mental health day...and has a happy Halloween

Um, so, last week got kind of out of control by the end of it. Come Thursday I was just too stressed out to function. Turns out that's October for me in Logan. 2006 I was miserable in my job (at Qwest) then stressing about the responsibilities of my new job (at the mall). 2007 I was dealing with weird illness and boy troubles. 2008 was just school mostly. Blah. In talking to my fellow students they feel the same way (the same way being that we're getting no where in our school work), so I feel a bit better about that. Anyways, Thursday I decided not to go to my history class, even though I had read the book. I figured taking a mental health night to carve pumpkins would serve me better in the long term, and I was totally right.

Take a look at the photo below. Notice the general disheveled-ness and the sense that I had given up on everything.
After carving my Batman pumpkin things were definitely looking up. Part of it was that I was watching "Psyche" and carving a pumpkin. I think the other part of it was creating a work of art. Really, the stencils and stuff they have on the internet are amazing. Y'all may know that I'm no artist (at least when it comes to visual art), but I think I did pretty well.
Then I got to carve my happy pumpkin. I think this picture really exemplifies the therapeutic benefits of carving pumpkins. Plus I got a pan full of pumpkin seeds to bake and eat (I ate them almost all at once, I feel like I've had better ideas).
Friday I went to a Halloween party with some friends, and it was way fun. My camera didn't take the journey with me, so I only have this cell phone picture. I had a lot of fun getting ready. I decided my costume lacked a certain something, so I added some spray-on sparkle, then the face paint. I was struggling not to touch my face all night, but I've decided it was well worth the effort (mostly because the effort was fun).
After all of this I'm kind of glad that it's November. While November means that I'm one month closer to a thesis defense deadline that I might not make, November is not October (and that means a lot). Plus Thanksgiving is in November, and my family kicks ass. So stay awesome.

I also did something productive this first weekend in November: I started winterizing my apartment. I've said it before, sometimes I feel like I live in a refrigerator, a hobbit sized refrigerator. Sunday I put of this plastic-wrap-type stuff on both my windows to keep the cold out, and I think its working pretty well. Unfortunately my blinds are on the inside of that seal. I weighed a few options and decided that keeping the blinds open but adding curtains was the best option (especially compared with the open-blinds-no-curtains and closed-blinds options). However, I have no blinds, so here's what my windows look like now.

I need to do laundry because I don't have any flat sheets around. But more likely I'll just rely on my wonderful mom to make me some curtains (because she's epically talented and generous). Now I'm off to get a good nights rest (I got one last night, it was fabulous) and get ready to tackle another Tuesday. I'm feeling pretty good about it.


----------------
Now playing: Oasis - Wonderwall
via FoxyTunes